Clinical Investigation of the Efficacy of Chemomechanical Preparation with Rotary Nickel-Titanium Files for Removal of Endotoxin from Primarily Infected Root Canals

IntroductionThis clinical study was conducted to investigate the ability of chemomechanical preparation with 2.5% NaOCl + 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and rotary nickel-titanium (NiTi) system in removing endotoxin from primary root canal infection with apical periodontitis.MethodsTwenty-one root canals with necrotic pulps were selected. Samples were collected before (s1) and after chemomechanical preparation (s2). The limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay was used to quantify endotoxins.ResultsThe LAL assay indicated that endotoxins were present in 100% of the root canals investigated (19/19) before (s1) and after chemomechanical preparation (s2). Analyses of the quantitative data revealed that the endotoxin content was significantly reduced at s2 (98.06%) compared with that at s1 (P < .05).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that chemomechanical preparation with 2.5% NaOCl + 17% EDTA and rotary NiTi files was effective in reducing endotoxin load in the root canal infection from primarily infected teeth with apical periodontitis.